MARGAO
Five-time National Champions Dempo Sports Club are all set to return to familiar territory as they face league leaders Namdhari FC in a crucial I-League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Thursday at 4:30 PM.
Speaking to The Goan Everyday, Dempo head coach Samir Naik shared his thoughts ahead of the match: “We have a big game against Namdhari FC on Thursday. This is a great opportunity for us to climb up the table. We know the season is long and full of ups and downs.”
He added, “The team is prepared and ready for the upcoming match. Our goal is to deliver a strong performance and achieve a positive result. The players are motivated for what lies ahead.”
Naik emphasized the importance of moving forward with confidence: “There is no time to dwell on the past. We must stay focused and continue to build on our strengths. Our aim is to secure the three crucial points to remain in the title race.”
Highlighting the significance of the upcoming clash, Naik stressed, “We need to give our best to secure victory, collect all three points, and stay in contention for the league title. Our fans play a huge role in supporting us, and we look forward to seeing them at the match.”
Naik expressed his excitement about returning to Dempo's home ground: “It’s always special to play in front of our supporters. The team is well-prepared, and we’re looking forward to making the most of this opportunity. We aim for all three points, which will help us close the gap with Namdhari.”
In positive news, Syrian defender Saheer Saheen Didor has recovered from injury, although Daniel Muthu and Lukman are still nursing their injuries. The team will rely on Spanish forward Juan Mera to deliver the goods.
The stakes are high, with Dempo currently on 17 points from 13 matches, sitting 7 points behind second-placed Namdhari FC, who have accumulated 24 points from the same number of games.
Namdhari FC coach Harpreet Singh acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying his team will aim to win but needs to be cautious of their rivals, who have strengthened their squad with new foreign players. Singh also mentioned that playing in front of a home crowd adds extra pressure but is determined to maintain their stronghold at the top of the table.
